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Priests Starve Cats at St. James Church

March 19, 2012 | Cats / TNR / Take Action

Church Groundskeeper Threatens Poisoning as Next Step

Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

New York, NY "“ Monday, March 19, 2012 "“ The small colony of eight feral cats has not been fed for almost two weeks at historic St. James Church in lower Manhattan. Father Lino Gonsalves and Father Walter Tonelotto have locked out caretakers there in an effort to starve the cats off church property. The priests refuse to meet with the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals to discuss any plan for cat care, though caretakers are willing to address any concerns the church may have for security or hygiene. Where will the cats be welcomed if even a church is throwing them out?

Those who wish to comment directly to St. James Church officials can e-mail Father Lino Gonsalves at sjc@stjosephnyc.org. (The Archdiocese of New York and the Vatican will be copied on your e-mail.) You may also call Father Lino Gonsalves of St. James Church at (212) 267-8376 or Joseph Zwilling, Communications Director for the Archdiocese of New York, at (212) 371-1011 x2997.

Historic Manhattan church in catfight over feral colony by Amy Sacks and Lisa L. Colangelo, New York Daily NewsSaturday, March 17, 2012

The cats are all neutered and vaccinated, following the guidelines of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only proven effective and humane method for controlling feral cat populations. When contacted for comment by the New York Daily News, Father Gonsalves derided, "The cats will not be poisoned, but we don't want the people to feed them on church property." Since the church owns all property in the vicinity, does the Father imagine that starving them out is somehow less cruel? Eradication of the cats is clearly the church's goal, if not by poison as once declared by the groundskeeper, then by starvation. Until now, St. James' feral colony was a model TNR project for which the church could be credited with humane leadership by example. This recent public banishment of the cats sends a very cruel signal to others facing the decision of how to approach feral cat management. Read more...

Comments

Submitted by Hercy Lord on Tue, 2012-03-20 12:00

Again - hypocrites! They "say" they love people and animals, but they will let some innocent animals STARVE. How can they sleep at night???? I am so appalled and disgusted and frankly, as a 69 year old life long non-believer who has been rescuing animals her entire life, I cannot understand how they can think that their God would put up with this. I will feed any animals that shows up at my house!

I am a Catholic and you make me feel ashamed to share your religion. What would Jesus do? These are God's creatures that you are cruelly starving and please don't doubt that this is a mortal sin upon your souls. I am praying to Jesus, Mary and all the saints that you find some compassion in your hearts and walk the walk of St. Francis of Assisi who loved all of God's animals and treated them with surpassing kindness. There is nothing you can say to defend these actions, you can only change what you are doing and stop the pain, suffering and death of these animals. All you need to do is having them neutered and enlist the help of an animal rescue group to help you. There are many who would, including Friends of Animals. Again, I am praying for your souls and for the innocent cats that you are starving!

I am appalled with what I have just read. I agree with Patricia!
What would Jesus or St Francis say to these two men?? What hypocrites they both are to call themselves Christians; to wear their collars and preach the word of God on Sunday and then deny Gods helpless; voiceless creatures a little care and comfort!! What is this world coming to when people turn their backs on the helpless be they animals or children!!
I can not believe that if they were to watch a cat die the long painful death of poison they would resort to such a heartless act! If they truly believe they would then they should leave the priest hood because they are not true men of God.
I pray that some how some way their hearts change.
Marre